How to Read a Job Description Like a Career Strategist (Especially if you’re pivoting, returning, or re-entering the job market)

If you’re exploring a career change in midlife or returning to work after a long break, job descriptions can feel overwhelming. You see a role that sounds exciting—until you hit a bullet point that makes you doubt whether you’re qualified.

Here’s the thing: job descriptions are not a checklist. They’re a wish list written by hiring teams trying to describe their ideal candidate.

Your job isn’t to meet every qualification. It’s to recognize where your experience aligns with what matters most—and learn how to position yourself with confidence.

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1. The Difference Between What You Can Do and What You’ll Get Hired For

When you’re pivoting careers, you probably can do many of the things in a job posting. But hiring decisions are based on proof, not potential.

That means:

• Employers focus on what you’ve already done, not just what you could do.
• Transferable skills need to be reframed in the language of the new role.
• The more familiar your background looks, the lower their perceived risk in hiring you.

So instead of asking:

“Can I do this job?”
Ask:
“Does my resume clearly show that I’ve done something similar before?”

If not, that’s where your personal branding and storytelling come in. You don’t need to change your entire career history—you need to connect the dots between your past experience and your target role.

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2. How to Read a Job Description Strategically

Every job posting includes several key sections. Here’s what to look for—and where to focus your energy:

🔹 Job Title and Summary:
Start here to understand how the company defines the role. Pay attention to keywords. For example, “Program Manager” vs. “Project Manager” may look similar but emphasize different skill sets.

🔹 Responsibilities:
This section reveals the day-to-day work and priorities. Highlight anything that overlaps with what you’ve done—even if it was in a different industry or volunteer capacity. These are your transferable achievements.

🔹 Qualifications or Requirements:
Don’t get stuck here. Focus on the first 3–5 listed requirements; those are usually non-negotiable. The rest are “nice to haves.” If you meet about 70% of what’s listed, you’re likely a viable candidate.

🔹 Preferred Skills / Nice to Have:
These are your upskilling opportunities. Use them as a learning roadmap—take note of what skills appear repeatedly across roles in your target field and consider short courses or certifications to close gaps.

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3. Rank and Prioritize Job Descriptions

Not every posting deserves your energy. Try this quick ranking method:

A – Aligned: You meet most requirements, can show evidence of success, and feel genuinely interested.
B – Bridge: You meet 60–70% and can connect your transferable skills with a strong story.
C – Curious: You’re intrigued but not qualified yet. Save for research and skill-building.

Focus most of your effort on A and B jobs—and use C jobs as a guide for what to learn next.

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4. Use Job Boards as Research Tools (Not Application Engines)

Job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn are best used for market research, not mass applying. Here’s how:

• Identify trends: Track which skills, job titles, and industries keep showing up.
• Spot language patterns: Note how companies describe roles similar to what you want—this helps refine your resume and LinkedIn keywords.
• Find target companies: When you see repeated listings from certain organizations, add them to your networking list.
• Reverse engineer your pitch: Use common phrasing to describe your strengths and experience in a way that resonates.

Remember—most hires happen through relationships, not applications. Job boards are a compass, not a career strategy.

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5. How to Use Google for Job Search and Career Pivot Research

Google is one of the most underused tools in career exploration. Try these strategies:

• Google Jobs: Type “Project Manager jobs near me” or “Remote Marketing Manager jobs.” You’ll get aggregated results from multiple boards in one place.
• Search by skills: Try “jobs that use data analysis and communication skills” or “careers for former teachers.”
• Company research: Search “site:linkedin.com/in [job title] + [company name]” to find real people in the role—then study their backgrounds to see what paths led them there.
• Salary research: Use “average salary [job title] [location]” or tools like Google’s salary insights for realistic benchmarks.

These insights help you target roles where your background is already competitive—and spot where a little skill-building could open new doors.

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6. Final Takeaway for Midlife Career Changers and Returners

If you’re a mom returning to work, or a professional navigating a midlife career transition, remember this:

You bring decades of experience, adaptability, and perspective that can’t be taught.
The key is translating that value into language employers understand—and focusing your search where your strengths align with what companies need most right now.

When you read job descriptions strategically, you’ll stop chasing “possible” roles and start targeting the ones you’re most likely to get hired for.

Need help with your career pivot? Set up a CLEAR™ Career Strategy call today.

❓FAQ: Reading Job Descriptions During a Career Pivot or Return to Work